Beowulf: First Literary Superhero

Beowulf was the first literary super hero. Like the common day
superman, Beowulf has ordinary human characteristics, as well as superhuman
powers. Like the Anglo-Saxons of Beowulf's time, he is boastful, manly, and
willing to outdo his fellow neighbor. The only difference between him and
the rest of the Anglo-Saxons is that he possesses extreme amounts of
physical power.
Grendel, the antagonist of the story, was feared by all men. He ate
humans and attacked them in their sleep. Many men had attempted to kill
Grendel, but until Beowulf, no man had ever succeeded. ...so Grendel ruled,
fought with the righteous, One against many and won...(line 81,82).
Despite the probability of ...

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and courageous method of killing Grendel
demonstrates his bravery and physical strength. Before, Unferth had taunted
Beowulf about his foolish bravery but when he and all the rest of the Geats
saw that Beowulf's strength and power were worth boasting about, they were
humbled. To prove Beowulf was powerful, he hung Grendel's arm, claw, and
shoulders from the rafters of the meeting hall.No Dane doubted The victory,
for the proof, hanging high From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was
the monster's Arm, claw and shoulder and all.(line 485-488)
Had Beowulf attacked Grendel with a sword, the events would not
have turned out the same. Many men before Beowulf had attacked Grendel with
a sword and all with no effect to Grendel. If Beowulf had used a sword
instead of his bare hands to kill Grendel, not only would Grendel have
survived but the brawl would not have such a significance in the history of
the Geats. Beowulf would not seem as brave, and even if Beowulf had died,
the ...

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